Zhongli told Lumine that Mu Yang was nearing his limit.

He just didn't want her to see him in such a sorry state.

[Mihoyo really hogging all the good stuff—I just wanna see battle-damaged Mu Yang!]

[Huh? Mu Yang's defeat CG? Where can I watch it?]

[What Slime are you talking about?]

As for Mu Yang, after leaving Liyue Harbor,

He headed straight for Chenyu Vale to go home and rest, recuperating from his injuries.

——————

In the following days, Lumine took on a commission from the Qixing.

She began helping the people of Liyue Harbor return to their normal lives.

Once everything was restored to order, it would be time for the Rite of Parting.

Since they were putting on a show, they had to go all the way—once the Rite of Parting was completed,

All the rumors surrounding Rex Lapis would be set in stone.

However, the origin of this disaster remained a topic of debate.

Naturally, the one to shoulder the blame was the Fatui Harbinger—"Childe."

But the Qixing also had their official explanation.

They issued a public notice:

Let it be known to all: Though the soaring dragon and the flying qilin may live as long as the mountains, they too shall return to dust.

The divine fate of His Imperial Majesty, Rex Lapis, was as enduring as the sun and moon—yet even they are subject to the vagaries of weather, and so it was that His Majesty encountered the calamity of thunder.

The gossip and hearsay spreading through the streets, claiming that Rex Lapis was assassinated, are far from the truth.

His Majesty met with divine retribution, and his spirit has returned to the heavens above. Thus, we announce this to the people of Liyue, urging all to temper their grief and refrain from excessive sorrow.

Furthermore, do not heed baseless rumors or indulge in wild speculation.

[Translation: He got struck by lightning.]

[Thanks, translator bro—now I get it.]

[Raiden Shogun: Don't @ me.]

[So the Raiden Shogun was the one who murdered Rex Lapis (confirmed).]

Lumine and Paimon stared at the notice, struggling to make sense of it.

This excuse was just too flimsy.

It was hard to imagine someone like Ningguang would come up with such a weak explanation.

Lumine analyzed, "There's only one possibility—Zhongli secretly informed them that he's still alive, through some means."

"This obviously fake excuse is meant to warn those with ulterior motives."

This speculation made sense.

And indeed, that was exactly what Zhongli did—he sent them a dream.

Informing the Qixing and the Adepti that he was still alive.

Once the Rite of Parting concluded smoothly,

Lumine found Zhongli standing in a secluded corner.

He was gazing in the direction of Liyue Harbor, his posture relaxed—a stark contrast to the grieving citizens at Yujing Terrace.

Then again, having shed a burden carried for 3,700 years, it was only natural he'd feel lighter.

Sensing Lumine's approach, he turned and exchanged pleasantries with the two.

"By the way, when are you free? I'd like to treat you to a meal at Xinyue Kiosk."

"Hmph, stop bragging, Zhongli."

Paimon crossed her arms, her face full of disdain.

"If it was some Third-Round knockout, I can believe—but Xinyue Kiosk even charges for tea! Can you really afford that?"

Zhongli was slightly taken aback. "Ah… now that you mention it, I am indeed short on Mora."

[Hahaha, the old man only realized after saying it—neither Mu Yang nor Childe are around to foot the bill now.]

[I know the answer—just put it on Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's tab.]

[Director Hu: Peacefully deceased.jpg]

Finally seizing the chance, Lumine asked the question on everyone's mind.

"Why is Morax lacking Mora?"

Zhongli explained that while Morax could freely create Mora,

The "mortal" Zhongli could not—Zhongli had to abide by mortal rules.

Everything he had done up till now was a rehearsal for his future life.

[You had your fun acting—but can you reimburse Mu Yang for that three-million-Mora Eternal Incense?]

[Meh, Mu Yang spent 20 million just on gift wrapping—three million is nothing.]

Paimon finally understood. "So Zhongli never checks prices because he's not used to it."

And then came the iconic line:

"But he's still not accustomed to being someone who can't conjure Mora at will."

"That's why he's become a social parasite who freeloads everywhere without ever paying..."

——————

Guinaifen burst out laughing. "Pffft—hahaha, social parasite..."

"I can't—my stomach hurts from laughing..."

[The Tone-Deaf Bard, the Social Parasite—by the time we've traveled all seven nations, we'll have offended every Archon.]

[That's just too blunt, hahaha.]

[One of these days, we're gonna get beaten up for running our mouths like this.]

[Gotta admit, though—it's a pretty accurate summary.]

——————

Zhongli defended himself, saying:

"In a city of commerce, what people exchange is not merely goods and Mora."

"But also knowledge, memories, and perspectives."

"As well as identities, roles, and ways of life."

No matter how much the god Morax descended to mingle with the people as "Rex Lapis,"

It could never compare to the experience of truly becoming a mortal—Zhongli.

He thanked Lumine, saying, "As Zhongli, I will also cherish the memories of walking alongside you through the streets of Liyue."

"Honestly, at first, I almost ran away."

Lumine spoke frankly.

If not for her concern for Mu Yang, she might not have gotten so deeply entangled in this mess.

Paimon said, "Don't say that—it was a great journey, wasn't it?"

With Liyue's affairs settled, their next step was to continue their journey in search of the Seven Archons.

But Zhongli warned them that continuing their travels might prove difficult.

Because the neighboring nation of Inazuma was currently under "Sakoku Decree"—a policy of national isolation.

[Someone knock me out and wake me up when we reach Inazuma.]

[At that rate, you might as well just bury yourself—no way it'll be that quick.]

[It's here—I've been waiting for Ayaka ever since watching Teyvat Chapter Storyline Preview!]

[If you've been waiting for Mu Yang since Teyvat Chapter Storyline Preview, spam '1'!]

The screen was instantly flooded with '111's.

...

Zhongli explained that the Electro Archon of Inazuma, Baal—known to the people of Inazuma as the Raiden Shogun—

Had used her divine will to envelop the entire nation in a storm of lightning.

He also revealed the reason why Inazuma's isolation was growing increasingly severe:

The Vision Hunt Decree.

Across all of Inazuma, Visions were being confiscated and embedded into the hands of the Statue of the Omnipresent God.

The God of Eternity, for the sake of her eternal nation, had finally resolved to eliminate all variables.

After all, "Of the seven ideals pursued by the Seven Archons, 'Eternity' is closest to the Heavenly Principles."

Lumine quickly asked—what were the Heavenly Principles?

But Zhongli said that due to a contract, he could not explain it to her.

When she asked about her brother, he gave the same reason.

Lumine was somewhat frustrated but pressed on with a few more trivial questions.

Their conversation soon came to an end.

Before parting, Zhongli told her:

There was no need to rush in finding a way to breach the storm—this matter might require a stroke of fate.

Lumine nodded in agreement and bid Zhongli farewell.

——————

For the players, Liyue's main storyline had now concluded.

Guinaifen had been grinding chests and leveling up nonstop these past few days.

Then she binge-played through the story in one go—and honestly,

Compared to Mondstadt's plot, Liyue's was far more dramatic.

There was mystery, foreshadowing, and the clash of perspectives between Adepti and humans.

Most importantly—there were Mu Yang's glorious moments.

"Who knows when we'll see Mu Yang again next..."

[Oh right, he went back to Chenyu Vale, right? So he won't be in Inazuma's arc?]

[Yamerooo! Why must you do this to me, wuuu—]

[Most of that segment was cutscenes—otherwise, I'd have kept him stuck in Northland Bank so I could visit and poke him every day.]

[Yandere much?]

Guinaifen wasn't really in the mood to keep playing either—grinding so hard was exhausting.

After saying goodbye to her viewers, she ended the stream.

But ending the stream didn't mean she was going to rest.

Time to lurk on the forums for some juicy gossip.